Well, I've experienced childbirth twice, but never stones. However, very recently my 22 year old son came to me telling me he didn't feel very good at all....within an hour, he was doubled over, sweating, puking, etc....we ended up in the emergency room, and the nurse (female) said that even women will admit that stones are worse. She said that is most likely true, because a female body is made to expand for childbirth, while uretheas are not so flexible. Also, stones can be very jagged. Just what the ER nurse told us, for what it's worth. My childbirthing experience the first time I would say that NOTHING was worse...the second one though (drugs, drugs, drugs) was a breeze. But, like I said...no stones for me, thank God...I don't want to know!